Marin is all about fine dining, and with so many restaurants to pick from, there’s already plenty on your plate when it comes to figuring out where to eat. From casual to classy, our quick guide gives you a range of some of the best dinner options. Make a reservation or plan to walk-in, and let us take away the stress of worrying about dinner.
Feature Photo: The Boardroom
Northern Marin
Novato
506 Alameda Del Prado, Novato
415.883.7793
Right next to the bar, The Speakeasy, The Boardroom has a similar elegant, mysterious ambiance and food to match. Sit near the piano player while you dine on smoked pork belly carbonara, made with house-made spaghetti and fresh cracked black pepper, or carve into a prime bone-in ribeye with maple glazed butternut squash and braised garlic mushrooms. Pair your meal with one of their signature cocktails, like their Bee’s Knees with Barr Hill gin, fresh lemon and raw honey simple syrup.
7416 Redwood Blvd, Novato
This cozy eatery offers an array of Italian and American dishes, including a long list of pastas; try the house-made ravioli cooked up by chef Edgar DeLon.
7089 Redwood Blvd, Novato
For authentic Chinese cuisine in Novato, China Palace has a variety of tastes and dishes and uses high-quality, fresh ingredients. Stop by for dine-in or take-out when craving your favorite noodle dish.
With nightly entertainment and live music, Finnegan’s is a great place to come for a casual evening out to enjoy the Downtown Novato community atmosphere. For a fun appetizer, get their Irish nachos, pulled pork, bacon, cheese, salsa, and sour cream served on a bed of crispy waffle fries. Or go for some classics like their shepherd’s pie with lamb, corned beef and cabbage with creamy horseradish or bangers and mash smothered in Guinness gravy.
5800 Nave Dr, Novato
415.382.1144
In the evenings from Sunday through Wednesday, LaVier Cuisine from Chef Guillermo Lara operates as a popup within Novato’s Toast restaurant. Delicious Latin fusion fills the large space in the Hamilton Marketplace. Tacos, ceviche, camarones and plantains complement homey curries and Thai influence. Pasta and plate entrees round out the sophisticated menu, with plenty of options for a range of diets.
1700 Novato Blvd, Novato
Yeehaw! Star Restaurant in Novato is back, cowboy style. The new owners are continuing to serve the beloved American breakfast, lunch and dinner in addition to new Latin American offerings. Whether you want pancakes or pupusas, you’ll find something to enjoy from Star’s massive menu. Slide into a booth and say howdy to your servers — decked out in cowboy garb!
Though Toast is open for all three meals of the day, they can get quite a big brunch crowd. For a leisurely dining experience consider visiting during dinner hours. If you’re in the mood for something hearty, you can’t go wrong with their grilled ribeye steak, served with roasted vegetables and a whiskey pepper sauce, or opt for the chicken penne with bell peppers, scallions and Cajun parmesan cream.
Southern Marin
Sausalito – Mill Valley – Tiburon – Belvedere
621 Bridgeway, Sausalito
415.331.5225
Multiple generations of the Ancona family create an authentic Italian eatery featuring dishes like arrosticini which is a find outside of Abruzzo, handmade pastas, and seasonal antipasti that has showcased the cuisine of the Campania region for more than 20 years. Enjoy indoor or outdoor seating, especially popular on a sunny day.
47 Caledonia St, Sausalito
This downtown favorite serves up more than just popular dishes like pad Thai and vegetarian Siamese rolls, the menu runs deeper into regional Thai flavors with offerings like a fermented tea leaf salad and soft shell crab curry.
300 Valley St #207, Sausalito
Novato’s Aurora has a counterpart in southern Marin. Traditional Italian food, a full bar, and friendly service make it a great option for families and sports fans, who can keep up-to-date on the game via flat-screen TV. The location on the south side of town is a boon, too, when a quieter meal is called for.
660 Bridgeway, Sausalito
Stop by Barrel House for a feeling of rising above it all (it’s on the second floor) where the soaring ceiling work reflects the restaurant’s name. The barrel-aged cocktails are worth a visit (try the Negroni) but dishes like maitake mushroom flatbread and tartare tacos reflect a locally-focused ethos that is enhanced by the cool setting and fantastic bay and city views.
Organic, wheat-free and peanut-free menu selections are a boon to many who stop in for the reliably fresh veggie dishes and sustainably-sourced seafood at Mill Valley’s Harmony. Local favorites, the signature beef and signature chicken, are part of their takeout menu and the fried rice includes slivers of BBQ pork for added richness.
35 Main St, Tiburon
Executive chef Renzo Azzarello serves Sicilian seafood and homemade pastas with a Californian touch. The seasonal menu incorporates fresh and organic produce, local naturally grown meat and poultry from small farms. The restaurant complies with Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, so all the seafood is sustainable. A recent expansion tripled the size of the patio to accommodate more diners. In 2014, diners voted Luna Blu one of the Top 100 Neighborhood Gem restaurants in America.
37 Caledonia St, Sausalito
Authentic Florentine cooking with an eye on local and seasonal means fresh fare all year long. The extensive artisan pasta selection includes vegan and vegetarian options and a breakfast menu includes frittatas and English muffin sandwiches. Live music on weekend evenings and at Sunday brunch lifts everyone’s spirits.
588 Bridgeway, Sausalito
Sausalito’s oldest seafood house has its own boat, berthed at Pier 47, that fishes seasonally and is approved for salmon and Dungeness crab, resulting in fresh catches year-round. The menu at both the Sausalito and Fisherman’s Wharf locations were revamped by chef (and Mill Valley’s own) Gordon Drysdale in accordance with the environmentally responsible Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program and regularly features whole crab, chowder and grilled fish.
1001 Bridgeway, Ste B1, Sausalito
From the owners of My Thai in San Rafael and Fairfax comes Sausalito’s own Thai spot. The nautical-themed restaurant offers Bangkok street favorites like sriracha wings, pad thai and barbecued meats.
615 Strawberry Village, Mill Valley
At this tucked away spot in the back of Strawberry Village, the kee mao noodles, pad thai, and fresh rolls stuffed with beets and herbs have a dedicated following as does the extensive bar menu (try the Amazing Mai Tai).
3001 Bridgeway, Ste. H, Sausalito
Fresh ingredients, free-range chicken and traditional dishes like mu shu pork and Hong Kong street style noodles fulfill the Chinese food craving with a nice atmosphere for dining in or takeout for a night at home.
Pedro and Maria Ulloa (formerly of San Rafael’s Arrivederci) serve dishes like veal saltimbocca and handmade pappardelle alla Abruzzese (gluten-free pasta is available) at lunch and dinner with tiramisu or key lime pie for dessert. The heated patio is shaded from the lights in the nearby parking lot.
Central Marin
Corte Madera - Larkspur - Kentfield - Ross - Fairfax - San Anselmo - San Rafael
1242 Fourth St, San Rafael
A wide array of thin-crust pizzas pulled from a traditional brick oven, freshly made pastas (don’t miss the four cheese lasagna), and salads are the ticket here, along with flame-roasted lemon chicken wings (mild, spicy, or atomic). Dairy-free cheese and gluten-free crusts are available.
809 4th St, San Rafael
Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, Bay Thai Cuisine is a go-to for authentic Thai lovers. Whether getting take-out or dining in, make sure to bring cash as they don’t take card.
1 G St, San Rafael
Cafe Arrivederci has been located in the heart of San Rafael for the past 27 years. Chef Tito is proud to serve fresh homemade pastas and dishes from all over Italy. Visit the expansive dining room, full bar, garden patio and private rooms for parties and events.
765 Center Blvd, Fairfax
Fairfax Brewing Company is Marin’s newest restaurant and brewery, opening its revamped location on September 9. With beers on tap like the Sleeping Lady Hazy IPA and the Fuego Fuerte Mexican Lager, as well as a diverse array of munchables like poke tacos, a crispy chicken sandwich, lumpia and Thai noodle salad, there truly is something on this menu for everyone.
35 Broadway, Fairfax
Fradelizio’s combines of authentic Italian cuisine and a Californian atmosphere with dishes made using fresh and local ingredients. There’s even a gluten free and vegan menu for those that are worried about missing out.
850 College Ave, Kentfield
Jared Rogers, the former executive chef of Picco, heads up the kitchen, partnering with restaurateur Dustin Sullivan on this 110-seat space. Look for well-executed California cuisine with weekly specials like Prime Rib on Mondays and fried chicken on Sundays, plus killer cocktails – the Sunburn and Easy Money are local favorites.
227 3rd St, San Rafael
Serving up traditional and innovative Himalayan style cuisine with natural and local ingredients for high quality, delicious cuisine.
901 A St, San Rafael
The large selection of innovative and classic Tuscan dishes and house-made pasta has kept locals coming back for years. Ingredients are organic and locally sourced where possible, and there’s a vast selection of both Italian and California wines by the glass.
3751 Redwood Hwy, San Rafael
Family owned and operated since 1985, La Toscana completed an extensive interior and exterior renovation, transforming an already popular San Rafael gathering spot into a place for any occasion. The menu features daily specials and classics like gnocchi and carbonara and an ample selection of wine.
555 E. Francisco Blvd, Ste. 22, San Rafael
Of course you come for the namesake bowl of hearty soup with clear broth, beef, noodles and vegetables at this Best of the County winner. But the family-style favorite tucked behind a carpet store on an industrial stretch of Francisco Boulevard beckons with beautiful plates of pork chops with broken steamed rice and fried eggs as well as the fresh spring and imperial rolls.
610 3rd St, San Rafael
Royal Thai focuses on quality, fresh, and delectable food. Using fresh veggies from local markets, their large variety of vegetarian options are popular choices for everyone.
286 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur
This Californian Italian restaurant already found in San Francisco Duboce Triangle has opened a branch on the main street of Larkspur in the space where Roma Antica once occupied. The Rustic is owned by Chez Panisse alum Zoti Ali Turap, and serves mostly Italian dishes as well as Mediterranean specialities like vegetable tagine.
2165 Francisco Blvd E, Unit C, San Rafael
Monica Chang’s sliver of a cafe at the southern end of San Rafael specializes in Korean food with dishes such as bibimbap, kimbap and bulgogi. The breakfast and lunch café also makes more familiar fare such as tofu protein rice bowls, banh mi sandwiches and breakfast burritos with eggs and kimchi fried rice.
534 4th St, San Rafael
Thai Smile brings a small slice of Thailand to San Rafael with its traditional style of cooking and Thai decor. Call to dine in for lunch, dinner, or take out and bring the tastes of Thailand home.
1238 4th St, San Rafael
Named for the founder’s wife (“Yet” refers to the moon, “Wah” to brightness), this beloved downtown mainstay has a traditional Chinese menu and daily dim sum. Live music is sometimes on offer in the Kung Fu Lounge and a gluten-free menu is available.
881 Fourth St, San Rafael
Vin Antico, “where passion meets the plate,” serves seasonal market-inspired cuisine like stone-oven-baked flatbreads, handmade pastas and organic salads, all innovatively prepared. The kitchen is open to the dining room and there’s a full bar with artisan cocktails. Black sesame-crusted tuna is classic, even better with an Il Capo negroni.
West Marin
Bolinas – Forest Knolls – Lagunitas – Marshall – Point Reyes – Stinson Beach – Tomales
18500 CA-1, Marshall
Within the Lodge at Marconi, Mable’s Restaurant takes visitors on a tasting journey that begins with a variety of cold appetizers. Order from their snacks, shared meals or large plates.
